Pifher mucks her way to state

Oct. 30, 2006

Written by

Gary Ogle

Telegraph-Forum staff

Colonel Crawford's Lindsey Pifher strains to reach the finish line for a state qualifying spot in the Division III regional cross meet Saturday at Pickerington. / T-F photo by Gary Ogle

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PICKERINGTON -- Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet kept Colonel Crawford senior Lindsey Pifher from completing her appointed round on Saturday. She wasn't auditioning for a job with the post office, just trying to qualify for her fourth state cross country meet.

"This was a once in a lifetime experience," Pifher said after fighting her way through the swampy course for the girls Division III race, the fourth of the day at Pickerington North High School. "I had mud in my eyes, in my mouth, in my teeth, squishing between my toes. It was insane."

Pifher slipped and slid to an eighth overall finish with a time of 21:20 on a day the conditions made the clock completely irrelevant. The course was ankle deep in muck in places which sucked off at least one competitor's shoe.

"I knew when I woke up today I had to do it to be a state participant," Pifher said. "I got out pretty quick today. I've been practicing that for next week. To be in the top eight is what I wanted."

When it comes to being a state qualifier, Pifher generally gets what she wants. She has also qualified for the state swim and track meets three times each.

"She's very determined. Even given these conditions she was going to do it," Colonel Crawford coach Jody Grove said. "Doggone it, here we are four years in a row."

Shortly before the race started, bitter temperatures suddenly dropped into the frigid range, the wind picked up and threatened anything not tied down while the snow and sleet began to fly horizontally.

None of that could wipe the mud-splattered smile off the face of Wynford freshman Taylor Mohr, 33rd overall with a time of 22:43, who said she was more determined than ever to return next year.

"It was fun," Mohr said through chattering teeth. "I felt like I was going to slip and fall down a lot," Mohr said. "I wanted to break fast at the beginning, but I didn't quite get where I wanted to be."

"For the regionals, this is probably the worst I've seen it," Grove said. "The course was trampled and muddy, but we all had the same conditions to run under."

Seneca East and Northmor girls teams were second and fourth respectively to qualify for the state meet next Saturday at Scioto Downs. Cardington's Caitlin Thomas ran second to earn her fourth trip to the season's final race.

The conditions were no better in Tiffin for the boys Division II race. But Galion's Zach Mathias took first with a time of 16:23, and teammate Zach Mathias was ninth, 17:09, to earn a place at the starting line at Scioto Downs.

"It has to be the worst conditions I've ever run in. It was crazy," Zeuch said. "You've got to know everybody else has to run in it, too. You've got to stay positive."